Nicola Alexandrou

3 days ago | theguardian.com | Sam Knight |Simon Barnard |Nicola Alexandrou |Leah Green

We are raiding the Guardian long read archives to bring you some classic pieces from years past, with new introductions from the authors. This week, from 2016: For decades, Alan Yentob was the dominant creative force at the BBC – behind everything from Adam Curtis to Strictly Come Dancing. He was a towering figure in British culture – so why did many applaud his very public slide from power? Written and read by Sam Knight

2 weeks ago | theguardian.com | Samira Shackle |Nicola Alexandrou |Ellie Bury

Monica Feria-Tinta is one of a growing number of lawyers using the courts to make governments around the world take action

2 weeks ago | theguardian.com | Sophie Elmhirst |Andrew McGregor |Hattie Moir |Nicola Alexandrou |Ellie Bury

We are raiding the Guardian long read archives to bring you some classic pieces from years past, with new introductions from the authors. This week, from 2022: Gary Hersham has been selling houses to the very rich for decades. At first, £1m was a big deal. Now he sells for £50m, £100m, even £200m. What does it take to stay on top in this cut-throat business?

3 weeks ago | theguardian.com | Shaun Walker |Nicola Alexandrou |Ellie Bury

Read the text version here Support the Guardian today: theguardian.com/longreadpod Adapted from The Illegals: Russia’s Most Audacious Spies and the Plot to Infiltrate the West by Shaun Walker, published on 17 April (Profile Books, £22; Knopf in the US). To support the Guardian and Observer, order your copy at guardianbookshop.com. Delivery charges may apply. Russia’s spies: Uncovering Russia’s secret espionage programmes.

3 weeks ago | theguardian.com | Scott Sayare |Esther Opoku-Gyeni |Nicola Alexandrou |Ellie Bury

We are raiding the Guardian long read archives to bring you some classic pieces from years past, with new introductions from the authors. This week, from 2021: An intrepid expert with dozens of books to his name, Stéphane Bourgoin was a bestselling author, famous in France for having interviewed more than 70 notorious murderers. Then an anonymous collective began to investigate his pastBy Scott Sayare. Read by Simon Vance